System of electric distribution



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

E. THOMSON.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION.

No. 822,139. Patented July 14, 1885.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. THOMSON.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION.

No. 322,139. Patented July 14, 1885.

I mi. 7/

N. PEVERS, PhOlxrLilHgH-lphrnWashingiofl, 0.8.

UNiTnn STATES ATENT OTirea.

ELIHU THOMSON, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC DESTREBUI'EON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 322,139, dated July 14-, 1885.

Application filed April 27, 1885.

T0 n/ZZ whom, it 7mm concern.-

Be it known that I, ELIHU THOMSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of Electric Distribution, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for operating electric incandescent lamps or other similar appliances from an induced current generated in a secondary coil of an induction-coil, the primary coil of which is intermittently traversed by a current derived from a main linesuch as a constant-current lineupon which are lamps or other devices are operated.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a means whereby a high potential line of great length conveying a moderate currentsuch as ten amperesmay be used successfully to operate one or more incandescent lamps or other apparatus placed at any convenient point, and requiring no great electro motive force for their successful operation, without involving the presence upon the lines connected to the lamps of high and dangerous potentials existing on the main line, and to also permit the extinction and relighting of such lamps without affecting the continuity of the main-line current.

My invention is applicable to cases where more or less energy of a continuous line-current is to be utilized upon a secondary local linesuch as a domestic installation of incandescent lights. The means whereby these objects are secured are described and shown in the accompanying figures.

Figure 1 is a diagram of the essential parts of the invention. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing further extensions of the apparatus. Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 show various parts of my invention; Figs. 7 and 8, modified constructions; Figs. 9, 10, and 11, further modifications of the apparatus and devices. Fig. 12 shows a detail of arrangement. T

In Fig. 1, X Y indicate portions of the main line, in a branch of which is inserted a secondary battery of one or more cells, B, whose terminals are connected, as shown, to X and Y, respectively. Another branch from X to (No model.)

Y passes through a coarse-wire primary coil, 1? P, wound upon an iron wire or other core, Land through a set of contacts (indicated at K). and of any desired kind, arranged to be opened and closed at rapid intervals in any suitable way so as to frequently and regularly interrupt the branch through P P. This may be accomplished by an armature arranged to be attracted by the core I to open contacts K, the contacts being closed, on the loss of mag netism of I, by means of an elastic spring, a device which is common in induction-coils. A secondary wire coil, S, is wound around the iron core I in any suitable manner and kept insulated from the primary wire P P. The relative sizes and proportions of the parts I, P, P, and S will depend upon the amount of e11- ergy to be transferred and other considerations known to electricians. illustrated is of sufficient length and fineness to afiord requisite electro-motive force to operate an incandescent lamp or lamps, L, inserted between its terminals. A shunting or other switch, XV, is provided at any convenient point for extinguishing the lamp L. Such switch might be made to introduce variable resistance or equivalent device for diminishing the lighting power of L, and, if desired, finally shunting it. In some cases I use a con denser, 0, whose foils are respectively connected to the contacts K, though such condenser is not always applied. he condenser is sometimes useful inmoderating the spark at the contact K.

As shown in Fig. 2, two or more distributing devices may be connected in series in a line and will operate independently to deliver secondary or induced currents to the lamps L L or other devices, two or more of which may be fed from a single secondary coil and in series or in multiple arc.

A means for varying the delivery of currents is shown at the right hand of Fig. 2, at R. It consists of a coil connected to the sec ondary circuit and provided with a movable core. The coil and core act by self-induction and according to the position of the core, either in or out of the coil, to permit the discharges from the secondary to pass with more or less freedom through it. The battery B,

in Fig. 1, need only be of simple construction. It may consist merely of plates of metallic The wire S in the case ICO coiled.

lead or hard carbon immersed in dilute sulphuric acid. A simple cell (shown in Figs. 3 and 4) consists of an outer vessel of lead, D, or other polarizable material, holding liquid, and an inner plate of lead, E, immersed in dilute sulphuric acid contained in D, and kept from touching D. Any number of these cells may be connected in series or multiple arc to form battery B, Fig. 1.

It is to be understood that any battery capable of polarization or accumulation by the line-current on X Y may be used. Any proper surfaces, as of sheet lead of any desired formation or arrangement in a cell, are quite sufticient for the purposes of my invention, the function of the battery being simply to ac quire a small surface polarization by the current from the main line X Y, and to be capable of a vigorous discharge of the accumulated current when the circuit is closed between the terminals.

Fig. 5 illustrates more in detail the parts ofthe induction-coil shown in Fig. 1. I is the iron wire or sheet iron core, around which the primary wire P and a secondary, S, are An armature, N, mounted on a spring, a, is arranged, when attracted toward the core I, to open the contacts at K, which contacts are composed of some known non-oxidizable and good conducting metal, as usual in such cases. The contact carried by N is preferably made so that it may be changed in position, when desired to present new surfaces for use, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 6. It is also made so as to be readily replaced or renewed. To these ends it may consist simply of metal plate fastened to the spring by a screw, as shown. The contact opposed to it is also made so as to be readily replaced or renewed.

Before describing further parts of my invention it will be convenient to set forth the mode of operation of the appliances shown in Fig. 1. Assuming a continuous current to traverse the line from X to Y, and that the contact K is momentarily opened, the said current, finding a path only through the battery B, will charge or polarize said battery in such manner that when the contacts Kare closed a current would pass from the left hand of said battery in the figure and join the main current from X, and adding itself thereto, will pass through the primary coil P P, the mainline current going to Y and the battery current being closed upon itself through P P. At this moment a current will pass through P P far exceeding in amount that of the main current. The circuit-breaker, however, at once opens the contacts K by the core I attracting the armature N, Fig. The primary current is thus interrupted, while the line-current Y is again forced to charge the battery B. An adjustment of the contact at K can readily be made such that an automatic opening and closing of the contact will take place with a rapidity depending on the elastic force of the armature carrying spring a and the weight of the armature N. This should be arranged to give a very rapid vibration, and the contact K should be adjusted to open when the current through the primary P P is not too intense. If adjusted to require a too strong current, they would prevent the continuous action by tot-ally discharging the battery B. The proper conditions can readily be found by which a continuous induction will take place in such manner that the secondary coil S will deliver rapidly-alternating currents through the lamp L so as to keep it lighted. The shunting-switch XV serves to extinguish the light by short-circuiting the secondary coil S, in which case the abstraction of energy from the main line becomes less than when the lamp L is burning, in consequence of the development of less extra current in the primary P Pindeed, the contactbreaker will sometimes soon discontinue its vibration after the switch \V is closed, and the mainline current from X to Y will pass unhindered through the primary P P. To start the device the contact K must again be opened to permit recharging of the battery B, when, if the switch XV be opened, the light L will continue to burn, as before. I sometimes arrange the secondary coil in sections, as shown at A, B, O, and D in Fig. 7, with switches for connecting such sections in se ries, multiple are, or in multiple series. By attaching small insulated plates at b c (I, respectively, to one terminal of each coil A 3 U1), and plates 0 fy 71/ to the other corresponding terminals of A B C D, wound in the same di rcction, and inserting plugs between a I), b c, and c (I, also between cf,f and r h, the in ultiple-arc connection is had, while by remov ing such plugs and inserting them between Z) 0, cf, and (l g a series connection is had. Other connections are possible by proper use of plugs. lVires leading to the lamps are attached to a and h, the extremes of the series which constitute the terminals from the secondary cell.

It is sometimes preferable to operate the contacts K mechanically, as by clock-work, or by other motor mechanism, such as an electric motor. In Fig. 8 lhaveindicatrd in general such plans of operation. P represents the primary, one of the contacts at K being attached to it, and one of them being made movable by being carried upon a sheetanetal spring, 01,01 otherwise mounted. so as to be moved toward and from the fixed contact by the rotation of the toothed wheel \V, set in motion by a weight, coiled spring, or other clock-work appliances, or any source of power. The pa sage of the toothed wheel over the projection carried upon the spring a sullices to give the requisite movement to the contact. Many other devices might be substituted with similar results. However, it is most convenient to cause the current itself to directly opcrate the contacts. The devices of Figs. 1 and 5 only do this after the battery B has been allowed to receive a charge by keeping the con- ICC) tacts open for a moment at the start. To ob viate the necessity of this I have devised a modification (shown in Fig. 9) in which acircuit through the battery branch from X to Y contains a small electro -magnetic coil, F, wound upon a suitable core opposite to which is mounted an armature, N, which, on being attracted toward the elec tro-magnet F, closes the contacts K, which complete a branch from X to Y through the primary coil P. When the armature M is released, the contacts K are opened by a spring which draws away such armature M. For certainty of action the armature M should be polarized or permanently magnetized, so that it would be attracted toward F when the line-current from X to Y is passing through the battery only, and will be repelled when the ]ine-current, plus that of the battery, is passing through the primary coil o P.

In Fig. 10 the modification of the parts shown in Fig. 9 is seen, in which the polarization of the armature M is secured by winding upon it or placing near it a coil so connected as to be always in the main-line current from X, the current only branching from the contact K. and to the magnet F after leaving the polarizing-coil. In other respects the devices are the same as just described. Under such circumstances the following connections will ensue: The contacts K will be opened at the start, and current will pass through F and B from X to Y, causing the armature M to close the contact K. At this moment the current will pass from X to Y through the contacts K and the primary coil P, while the battery will also discharge current through the magnet F, the contacts K, and coil P, and will assist the main line-in reversing the magnetism of M. The armature M will therefore be repelled, the contacts K will open, and the battery B again receive a charge from X to Y, and the former connections will be continuously repeated with arapidity depending uponthe elasticity and inertia of the contact-maker.

In Fig. 11 another style of contact-breaker and operating device is shown. It consists of an electro-magnet, F, placed in the mainline current, which magnet upon attracting its armature N opens the primary circuit contact K, at the same time closing a contact, Q, which forms a shunt around the magnetcoil by establishing a circuit through the armature direct to the pillar V WVhen the con tacts at Q and at Kare open,the circuit passes from X to lower contact, Q, through the coils of F to the pillar supporting the armature N, from said pillar to the battery branch B to Y, and from said pillar through the contacts K, when closed, and the primary coil P. By these connections, F is shunted when N is attracted, the result being a continuous and rapid vibration, and closure and opening of the contacts K and Q alternately. In all other essential features the devices are the same as before described, except that the apparatus in Figs. 9, l0, and 11 are self-starting and entirely automatic.

It is desirable that the main line from X to Y should have inserted in it an absolute cutoff'of any desired kind located at Z, Fig. 12, by means of which a complete shunting and absolute cut-off of the loop in which the battery B, primary coil P, and contacts K are placed may be effected when such devices are to be thoroughly cut off from the circuit.

Having now described the present invention, I wish it understood that I do not limit myself to the particular form of apparatus shown in the figures, but may employ any other equivalent forms kn own in the art yielding equivalent results, my invention consisting of aparticular method of continuously operating an induction apparatus from the mainline currcntsuch as used in arc lightingat the same time securing independent currents on a local circuit, or secondary coil from connection with the high -potential main, and also securing great ease of manipulation and simplicity of parts.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is l. The combination, with a main-line circuit, of one or more devices consisting, substantially, of a branch containing a secondary battery, B, and another branch containing a primary coil, P, and circuit-interrupting contacts, whereby induction discharges are obtained in a secondary coil, S, connected to a separate circuit, substantially as described.

2. A main or supplying line for electric currents, having a derivation into two branches, one containing a secondary battery, and the other a primary coil and circuit-breaking contact, as set forth, in combination with a secondary coil connected to a local independent circuit containing electric lamps or other translating devices.

3. The combination, with the main line and induction coil, of a branch around the induction apparatus, in which branch is placed one or more cells of a battery consisting simply of polarizable surfaces immersed in conducting liquid, and of a secondary coil connected to a local circuit.

4. In a system of electric distribution, a main or charging line, and a local independent line containing translating devices, in combination with an induction coi1 having a divided secondary coil, and switch appliances, whereby any desired connection of sections of such coil may be effected.

5. In a system of electric distribution, a main-line circuit divided into two branches, one containing a contact-operating magnet and secondary battery, and the other containing the primary coil of an induction-coil, and a set of contacts operated by said magnet.

6. In a system of electric distribution, a polarized armature kept polarized by the current of a main line, in combination with an actuating-magnet for said armaturein a branch with a secondary battery, aset of contacts operated by said armature in its movements,

and a second branch including the primary coil of an induction-coil, the secondary coil of which delivers electric energy to electric lamps or other devices.

7. The combination, with a secondary coil, S, supplying current to the lamp L, or other device, of a shunting-switch, WV, for shortcircuiting the secondary, thereby saving energy of the primary and relieving strain upon the main line.

8. In a system of electric distribution, the combination, with the main line, of a second my battery, the primary of an induction-coil, a rheotome or circuit-controller, whereby the battery is alternately polarized from the mainline current and discharged through the primary of the induction-coil, and a secondary coil connected with a local or sub circuit con- ELIHU THOMSON.

\Vitnesses:

E. \VILBUR Bron, J12, \VILLLiM F. NOONAN. 

